Surrendered Child

A Birth Mother's Journey

Nonfiction, Family & Relationships, Adoption, Biography & Memoir
Cover of the book Surrendered Child by Karen Salyer McElmurray, University of Georgia Press
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Karen Salyer McElmurray ISBN: 9780820342849
Publisher: University of Georgia Press Publication: August 15, 2011
Imprint: University of Georgia Press Language: English
Author: Karen Salyer McElmurray
ISBN: 9780820342849
Publisher: University of Georgia Press
Publication: August 15, 2011
Imprint: University of Georgia Press
Language: English

Surrendered Child is Karen Salyer McElmurray's raw, poignant account of her journey from her teen years, when she put her newborn child up for adoption, to adulthood and a desperate search for the son she never knew. In a patchwork narrative interwoven with dark memories from her childhood, McElmurray deftly treads where few dare—into a gritty, honest exploration of the loss a birth mother experiences.

The year was 1973, a time of social upheaval, even in small-town Kentucky, where McElmurray grew up. More than a story of time and place, however, this is about a girl who, at the age of sixteen, relinquished her son at birth. Twenty-five years would pass before McElmurray began sharing this part of her past with others and actively looking for her son.

McElmurray's own troubled upbringing and her quest after a now-fully-grown son are the heart of her story. With unflinching honesty, McElmurray recounts both the painful surrendering and the surprise rediscovery of her son, juxtaposed with her portrayal of her own mother, who could not provide the love she needed. The dramatic result is a story of birthright lost and found—and an exploration of the meaning of motherhood itself.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

Surrendered Child is Karen Salyer McElmurray's raw, poignant account of her journey from her teen years, when she put her newborn child up for adoption, to adulthood and a desperate search for the son she never knew. In a patchwork narrative interwoven with dark memories from her childhood, McElmurray deftly treads where few dare—into a gritty, honest exploration of the loss a birth mother experiences.

The year was 1973, a time of social upheaval, even in small-town Kentucky, where McElmurray grew up. More than a story of time and place, however, this is about a girl who, at the age of sixteen, relinquished her son at birth. Twenty-five years would pass before McElmurray began sharing this part of her past with others and actively looking for her son.

McElmurray's own troubled upbringing and her quest after a now-fully-grown son are the heart of her story. With unflinching honesty, McElmurray recounts both the painful surrendering and the surprise rediscovery of her son, juxtaposed with her portrayal of her own mother, who could not provide the love she needed. The dramatic result is a story of birthright lost and found—and an exploration of the meaning of motherhood itself.

More books from University of Georgia Press

Cover of the book Tennessee Women by Karen Salyer McElmurray
Cover of the book A Field Guide for Immersion Writing by Karen Salyer McElmurray
Cover of the book Chattooga by Karen Salyer McElmurray
Cover of the book Reading for the Body by Karen Salyer McElmurray
Cover of the book The Price of Permanence by Karen Salyer McElmurray
Cover of the book Invisible Sisters by Karen Salyer McElmurray
Cover of the book North Carolina's Amazing Coast by Karen Salyer McElmurray
Cover of the book Study in Perfect by Karen Salyer McElmurray
Cover of the book My Paddle to the Sea by Karen Salyer McElmurray
Cover of the book Hurricane Walk by Karen Salyer McElmurray
Cover of the book Generations in Black and White by Karen Salyer McElmurray
Cover of the book Remapping Second-Wave Feminism by Karen Salyer McElmurray
Cover of the book Elbert Parr Tuttle by Karen Salyer McElmurray
Cover of the book Texas Women by Karen Salyer McElmurray
Cover of the book Medical Bondage by Karen Salyer McElmurray
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy